Watermelon Tea Cooler
A cool and refreshing drink on an Indian hot summer’s day.
Ingredients
- 3 tea bags black tea (your choice of brand, caffeinated or decaffeinated)
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup simple syrup (see recipe below)
- ½ cup lime or lemon juice
- 2–3 cups watermelon chunks, seeds removed
- 1 tbsp Chopped mint and lemon or melon wedges for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Put tea bags in a container that will hold the 3 cups of water. Boil the 3 cups of water, and when they come to a boil, pour the boiling water over the teabags. Let the bags steep for at least 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool.
- Once cooled, place it in the refrigerator. You can do this a day ahead or a few hours before you are going to make the cooler.
- Blend the watermelon chunks in until it is like a smoothie. In a pitcher that holds at least 6 cups of water, add the tea, simple syrup, lemon juice, and melon smoothie. Stir it all together until nicely mixed. Add some crushed ice when ready to serve.
- If it is too tangy, you can add more crushed ice or cold water.
Notes
Notes:
-This is a great drink for summer refreshments served with cucumber, watercress or tomato sandwiches.
-You can kick it up a notch for adults by adding a splash of gin or vodka! Check out this site. I love the cause. https://boozeforpaws.org/
-If you want to go the route of scooping out the melon and using it as a container, it makes a wonderful and impressive presentation. Unfortunately, no matter how well I plan, I find myself invariably short on time and scrambling for an easy way out!
-Scooping out the melon and using it as a container makes a wonderful and impressive presentation.
Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
½ cup fine-granulated sugar
½ cup water Directions: 1. In a saucepan, on low heat, dissolve ½ cup of sugar with ½ cup of water (approximately 3 minutes).
2. Take the saucepan off the heat and leave the syrup to cool.
3. When cool, pour the syrup into a clean glass bottle that has a tight lid.
4. Rinse the bottle both with boiling water (do not wipe with a cloth as it may leave bacteria).
5. Refrigerate the syrup until ready to use. It should last a month in the fridge. It should remain a clear liquid. If it turns cloudy, throw it out as that is a sign of bacterial growth!
6. The ratio for simple syrup is one part sugar and one part water so you can always make more to store.
½ cup water Directions: 1. In a saucepan, on low heat, dissolve ½ cup of sugar with ½ cup of water (approximately 3 minutes).
2. Take the saucepan off the heat and leave the syrup to cool.
3. When cool, pour the syrup into a clean glass bottle that has a tight lid.
4. Rinse the bottle both with boiling water (do not wipe with a cloth as it may leave bacteria).
5. Refrigerate the syrup until ready to use. It should last a month in the fridge. It should remain a clear liquid. If it turns cloudy, throw it out as that is a sign of bacterial growth!
6. The ratio for simple syrup is one part sugar and one part water so you can always make more to store.